On Thursday, September 22, I had the privilege of addressing the Business Council of New York State, Inc., during its 2011 Annual Meeting. The Business Council represents the interests of large and small firms throughout the state and is comprised of thousands of New York-based member companies, along with area chambers of commerce. The meeting is one of the most anticipated pro-business, pro-private sector events attended by Fortune 500 companies, as well as state and national leaders in the fields of business, economics, government and public policy.

OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE AND OUTLINE POLICIES THAT WILL MAKE NY WORK AGAIN

My years of extensive private sector experience in developing and operating profitable manufacturing businesses provides me a unique perspective into the challenges and opportunities facing job creators operating in New York State. Being able to communicate that perspective – while outlining specific public policies that will grow the private sector while shrinking the size, cost and reach of state government – was a welcome opportunity!

The following issue highlights formed the core of the big-picture policy agenda I outlined during my remarks to the Business Council:

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: AREAS WHERE I HAVE MADE AN IMPACT

• Stopped the state’s costly license plate mandate;

• Blocked an extension of the job-killing “Success Tax,” a.k.a. the “Millionaire’s Tax”;

• Enacted the property tax cap and sponsored the most comprehensive unfunded mandate relief bill ever introduced in the state Legislature to give local governments and school districts real relief from Albany’s cost drivers;

• Pushed for a state spending cap – If a spending cap had been in place, New York State would have saved approximately $30 billion over the last 10 years;

• Sounded the alarm – the first, and only, Legislative Conference to do so – on the slowing national economy and New York’s growing fiscal crisis; and

• Held State Agencies accountable and exposed their job-killing regulatory excesses.

REGULATORY RELIEF: CUT RED TAPE, GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY

• Require State Agencies to provide policymakers and taxpayers a complete listing of fines, fees and surcharges to see where they go and how they are spent;

• Repeal the Wage Theft Prevention Act (requires all employee communications be in the “primary language” of an employee and significantly increases the potential for litigation by employees against employers);

• Repeal the Diesel Emission Reduction Act of 2006 (requires all heavy duty vehicles owned by the state to use low-sulfur diesel fuel and be retrofitted with technologies);

My remarks to the Business Council concluded with a commitment that I would continue to be outspoken on all of these issues this fall, and throughout the upcoming 2012 Legislative Session. I promised to continue serving as a strong voice for job creators and New York’s business community as we continue our efforts to get the economy moving – and New York working – again.

As always, constituents wishing to discuss this topic or any other state-related matter should contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us.